Renowned Chinese troupe offers music and dance concert

March 26, 2008

KALAMAZOO--A rare performance of Chinese music and dance awaits
a local audience at 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 31, when
faculty and students from the Sichuan University Art Troupe perform
in Western Michigan University's Dalton Recital Hall.

The free, public performance is part of a two-day campus visit
by the delegation composed of six professors and 18 students.
The art troupe is offering American universities a carefully
prepared folk dancing and singing gala titled "All Good
Wishes." The event will feature dancing and singing typical
of Western China as well as works jointly created and performed
by the students and teachers of Sichuan University in recent
years.

Performers include professor Shijing Yan, director of international
affairs, Xiangdong Yang, deputy dean of the arts school, and
Professor Guan Ping, director of the International Exchange Division.
In addition to performing, the Chinese students will attend WMU
music and dance classes and rehearsals for the University Chorale
and Symphonic Band. They also will put on a demonstration for
WMU dance students.

The Sichuan University Art Troupe is the first ensemble of
its kind among higher education institutions in Western China
as well as a professional arts performance organization. The
troupe was established based on several specialties in the School
of Arts of Sichuan University, such as music, dance, editing,
directing and performing arts for television and film.

Since its establishment in 1999, with a mission to promote
Chinese culture and focus on the ethnic arts of Western China,
the art troupe has produced a large number of performances featuring
the characteristics of the western region, customs of ethnic
minorities and campus cultural life. The works and performances
produced by the troupe have won many prizes in professional and
national contests. In 2002 and 2003, the troupe traveled to
the University of Tennessee and Knoxville, Tenn., for cultural
performances and academic exchange. In 2007, performances took
place in seven universities in Korea to wide acclaim.

Since its establishment, the art troupe has drawn together
a large number of nationally renowned directors and actors and
now has a team of eight creative workers, 80 dancers, 12 singers
and 20 screen actors.

WMU's School of Music, Department of Dance and the College
of Engineering and Applied Sciences are sponsoring the troupe's
visit. WMU's China Study Group and the local Chinese community
have provided financial support. For more information, contact
Dr. David Colson in the School of Music at (269) 387-4667.